Now that I've been fired by Amazon, my brief career in retailing seems to be at an end. Was it only last November I was assuring Chaz I could make a quarter of a million, easy, in Amazon commissions? After all, between Twitter and Facebook I had 440,000 customers in the store every day, and if 2% of them bought a DVD, that would work out to...
I tried to remember where the decimal point went, and Chaz told me to get right back to her when I had it worked out. Apparently I could clean up something between $37 a day and $37,740 a day. Somewhere in that range. (By the way, if you use ad blocking software, many of my references below may seem odd.)
Amazon has this deal where you register as an Amazon Associate and get a percentage from anyone who comes to Amazon and buys something through your coded link. It doesn't matter what they buy, if they do it on the same trip. For example, I could pitch a 99¢ MP3 download by Justin Bieber, and on the same shopping trip someone might decide to buy themselves a nice electric bike.
You see where that could lead. I went into a frenzy of salesmanship. This was not greeted by my Followers and Friends with messages of gratitude for the bargains I was finding them. My so-called Friends on Facebook starting asking. "Has Ebert's account been hacked? Why is he shilling this shit?"I wrote a blog entry to explain. I was trying to make money. I had these neat notions I wanted to try out on my website, and the Sun-Times had little spare change for such ideas as my dispatches from Far-Flung Correspondents in Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, the Philippines and so on. I found that posting their entries could take me an evening that I couldn't spare away from work. With income from my Amazon links, I could hire someone to do it. For example, no link I posted was ever more popular than this one:
I sold at least 150 of those over the months. It included a good many of his hard to find early silent films, and the price was right. Not that I made a fortune. I found that I was using up way too much time every day searching Amazon for good deals for my readers. I tried to link mostly to stuff I had, used and liked, for example:
...adding that all sizes and styles were nicely priced. I also did a big business in rice cookers, in connection with my cookbook The Pot and How to Use It.
I advised people to start their day with oatmeal...
And when I told them to try cooking in with coconut water, you might be amazed at how much coconut water I sold.
But this could go on all day. Sometimes I tweeted rather eccentric selections, like a corduroy dress I thought might make a woman huggable. The women on my Facebook page said they would slap anyone who tried to hug them in it. But I did sell one dress.That became the fascinating thing. Every morning I could log on, check the total of my commissions for the previous day, and then scroll down the list of what had actually been purchased by people using my links. There were no electric bikes, fur coats or diamond rings. I did notice significant sales for one book I had not linked. My readers apparently found it for themselves.
Not to worry. Amazon didn't reveal the names of any purchasers. They did, however, provide marketing tips:
I found that many people buy staples through Amazon. Jockey shorts, towels, soap, razor blades, pet food, dried beans, shampoo, toilet paper. I sold remarkable numbers of blue jeans and Dockers. ("Who wears Dockers?" a Friend sneered.) Nineteen of my other friends, that's who.A year ago, in an earlier money-raising scheme, I began the Ebert Club Newsletter. This was to be a weekly email sent to those who donated at least $5 a year toward the upkeep of the site. I realized I didn't have the time to produce the Newsletter myself, and recruited a friend near Vancouver named Marie Haws.
This turned out to be a brilliant decision. Marie is a fine artist, animator, and creative web surfer, and soon her Newsletter became a hit. I kept being asked how many members we had. I kept that a secret. But the Newsletter finished its first year of publication a few weeks ago, and I was amazed to find that at the end of a year only three people had asked for refunds. We currently have about 5,800 members, and basically everyone has renewed at $10 a year.So the Newsletter is a success and I am proud of it. Marie spends the better part of three or four working days on it, I pitch in some stuff, and readers contribute. The most common complaint is, "There's too much in an issue!" No, really.
Marie also designs and posts all the reports of the Far-Flung Correspondents, and special WebPages we create for the express purpose of Tweeting and Facebooking. You can find links to about 300 of these running down the right side of this page. The Newsletter and my Amazon income paid Marie's well-deserved salary, and left something over for discretionary additions to the site.This all began as an experiment to see how a web site might hope to make money. Yes, we run real ads on rogerbert.com, but so far I have not actually seen any of that income, except in the form of my actual paycheck. It all goes into overhead. That's not the issue, anyway. The issue is: Most people think of the web as free, and like it that way. The decision of The New York Times to start charging for content will be closely studied, and I wish them very well. But pay sites in general aren't received well.
My question was whether other sources of income existed. I'm very pleased with the Newsletter. Chaz told me it was a mistake to charge $5, "since that's so low it doesn't make it look like it's worth anything." Marie, who monitors PayPal and MailChimp and can tell exactly what people are doing, says our new annual price of $10 has essentially been accepted by everybody--probably because the Newsletter is so good, and also because some people are willing to help me keep my main site, including more than 10,000 movie reviews, free.Amazon, as I said, fired me. They cancelled their deals with all their Amazon Associates in Illinois after the state passed a law requiring out of state online sales to include the state sales tax. There's a movement to protest that law, but I haven't joined it. I think it's a fair law. Let's face it. Illinois needs money even more than my web site.
I feel a certain relief that I can no longer post Amazon links after April 15. I have a real job and a real life, writing for my site and helping to produce "Ebert Presents" on public television. I don't have the time to plunder Amazon for links I think might sell.Also--well, it wasn't dignified. After the first jolt that I was "shilling" stuff, most people were good sports. Some newbie might complain about a link and the regulars would jump on him. Mostly what I got was curiosity: Can you make any money that way? (The answer: More than you might think and less than I might have hoped.) Every morning I took encouragement from seeing that a considerable number of people had actually purchased something, even though my percentage (on a Kindle book, say) might pay me 6¢. Sometimes I tweeted the daily free MP3 download, on the theory that, once in the door, people might buy something else.
It was fun there for a while. I began to play a sort of game on Facebook, where I'd sometimes post weird stuff just to be funny. Not bad stuff, you understand. Just things no one was expecting.
Categories: The Webopolis 171 Comments Ameroux | March 25, 2011 12:40 AM | Reply
Sorry it didn't work out for you, dear Roger. I hope something else comes along. Your website is wonderful. I read everything sooner or later. All the best from Chambana.
Zack | March 25, 2011 12:40 AM | ReplyI hope you keep posting these links, I enjoyed seeing the next quirky thing you'd post.
Zack | March 25, 2011 12:43 AM | ReplyI hope you keep posting these links, I enjoyed seeing the next quirky thing you'd post.
Grant | March 25, 2011 12:47 AM | ReplyI can't pretend I'm not relieved. The regular Amazon ads in your Twitter feed were quite a bit annoying, and I know of at least one friend who unfollowed you because of them.
That said, I completely understand why you were doing - it's just going to be a more readable feed without them.
Colin F. | March 25, 2011 12:50 AM | ReplyI kind of liked the advertising. I'm a cheapskate, so I didn't buy anything (sorry). But seeing the recommendations was fun. I found it a lot more fun than normal advertising; it was more personal and interesting to see what you came up with.
Incidentally, if you're taking suggestions for the last few links, I'd suggest going on Amazon, putting in any phrase ("notebook," for instance), going to one category, sorting from highest to lowest, and go for something really hog-wild. I'm annoyed that they've taken down things like bulldozers and personal tanks (each were about $20,000), which I'd written goofy copy for on a small website. However, they still sell bleachers for thousands of dollars for some reason (I've linked to one above).
Alternately, if you'd actually like to see people purchase what you link, I suggest looking up "The Ex" knife set. It's fun just to look at the picture (I don't own it, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness).
Barns | March 25, 2011 12:51 AM | ReplyBrass balls? By all appearances, Mr Ebert, you have 'em.
Marianne | March 25, 2011 12:56 AM | ReplyHonestly, I didn't like the Amazon selling. I think of you as a journalist first, and I don't want journalists to be selling me anything but well-written truths and/or opinions. I think Walter Cronkite could've been down to his last dime and wouldn't have used CBS to pitch me Tang. It's ethically odd.
D k Cornelius | March 25, 2011 12:59 AM | ReplyWhy not have Marie place the ads and you keep the money from the newsletter?
Dymphnasis AKA Mary | March 25, 2011 1:00 AM | ReplyHey Roger, Check out this photo. The tattoo was on the arm of a local gas station cashier. He kindly let me take a photograph.
http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb160/dymphnasis/?action=view¤t=042808_19471-32.jpg
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb160/dymphnasis/042808_19471-32.jpg
[IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb160/dymphnasis/042808_19471-32.jpg[/IMG]
John Hubanks | March 25, 2011 1:02 AM | ReplyI will be forever grateful for your recommendation of the rice cooker. I would never have expected such versatility from such a simple appliance. The quality of my diet has benefited tremendously thanks to your recommendations as well as your book. If nothing else, there's that much. Many thanks.
litdreamer | March 25, 2011 1:05 AM | ReplyWell, you definitely made more than my poetry book has made in the last few years. Then again, I broke even on it (and then some) years ago, and I've given away so many of them (plus one that someone forgot to return to me--before she went to teach English in Indonesia) that people may wonder why I'm still charging for them.
The answer is simple: it's a direct way of supporting the arts. Also helps fund my book-buying habit. And it stokes my ego. :-)
And yes, I still have friends who have not bought the book off of me. I'm sure they're thinking that they'll get it as a present someday, when in fact, they will not.
Anyway, I'd rather people pay for my writing as a product than pay for products that I write about. But I see how doing so could become addictive.
(And for those of you curious about my poetry book, click here. I'll even sign it for you.)
Natasha | March 25, 2011 1:18 AM | ReplyI like myself, even the somewhat embarrassing parts of me.
I am never afraid to have fun and try an adventure.
I love attention and I pay attention.
I'm Roger Ebert.
I'm honest.That's some of what I have learned about you in the year that I've known you. And I have to say it has been a joy and an adventure I could never have imagined.
TR | March 25, 2011 1:20 AM | Reply
Meanwhile, I'm glad Illinois needs money, I hope they have more plans on where to get it from.
You are a spring of ideas, I'm sure we'll soon find out what you come up with next, Roger.
Love, NatashaI didn't mind the Amazon links at first, but then they started becoming absurd, and I began to see them something like three times a day. Film recommendations? Great! Books? I am interested. Oatmeal? Raisins? Pants? Cameras? It was getting to the point where I felt like I was getting ads stuffed down my throat and was on the verge of unfollowing you on Twitter and Facebook, and not re-subscribing to the Ebert Club just to get away from the ads.
I'm glad you were able to make a few bucks off it and I did see some interesting things at first, but I'm certainly glad it ended. I was surprised to learn I much prefer paying for content like the newsletter than getting ads shoved at me, especially after all these years of banner ads on webpages. Maybe it was just because of the venue -- I use Facebook and Twitter to follow people/things that I am interested in, so finding intentional and blatant ads where content should be seemed grating.
Gary in Phoenix, Arizona | March 25, 2011 1:24 AM | ReplyYou can shill for me anytime, Pal. :o)
Luis Perez | March 25, 2011 1:35 AM | ReplyI really liked seeing what deals you were digging up. It was fun while it lasted. As far as I was concerned, I was getting a little bit of an inside look at Roger's life by what he found worth buying and using himself or what he thought was a worthwhile deal for his readers that he values so much. Roger has proven his integrity to me time and again. I would never question his motives, for they come from the good heart of a great man.
Karen W. | March 25, 2011 2:11 AM | ReplyIt has always driven me batty when I see people complaining about advertising/affiliate links on a blog. As long as there aren't pop-ups or pop-unders - it's all good.
Lynne | March 25, 2011 2:22 AM | Replydang! I was just about to apply for one of those Amazon associte deal things.. Oh well. I just read about the NYTimes fee for the online edition. Bills gotta be paid, I reckon. I'm about to put a "donate" button my blog!
Phill Powell | March 25, 2011 2:25 AM | ReplyHey, you pitched the merch in about as dignified a fashion as someone in your position could.
Still, it was a little disconcerting finding you in that role, like if you went to the dentist and suddenly learned that your teeth were going to be cleaned that day by former President Jimmy Carter.
Okay, maybe it wasn't as disconcerting as that.
jrdeaver | March 25, 2011 2:41 AM | Reply
"Why is he shilling this shit?"...crushingly funnyWell, Roger, wouldn't it be legal to allow one of your out-of-Illinois loyal readers to handle the Amazon associates links and forward the dough to you to aid in the production of the newsletter? Just a thought...
Boston Cab | March 25, 2011 3:03 AM | ReplyKool story bro!
Solomon Wakeling | March 25, 2011 3:35 AM | ReplyI subscribed to the newsletter because it sounded like you needed the money. I've now come to my senses. I think I glanced at the first issue and sure it is filled with interesting stuff but the content that interests me is all free on your website: new reviews, great movies and your blog. I'll resubscribe if its easy to do (and I don't recall any hassles with that) and gladly continue to not read your newsletter.
Your amazon links are well-thought out and often amusing. For someone who hates Facebook so much you've done more to monetise relationships than anyone of my other "Facebook friends". Which is fine, I'm not the Facebook police.
I've come to a policy where I now generally only post links to products if its for something I believe in and for someone who I think needs it.
For example: I think you should humour me and buy Erica Buettner's CD when it comes out in the next few months. I saw her perform at the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris last year. She begins: "Crying won't get you a dime, but you won't get a dime without crying."
Uddhav | March 25, 2011 4:24 AM | ReplyYour honesty is startling and I hope your website would always remain free, for it is a true treasure trove of love and appreciation for cinema.
T Wynne | March 25, 2011 4:25 AM | ReplyWell, as an independent bookseller who just had to close her bookstore after twenty years in business, I have to say that I have been sad to see how many A-zon tweets you've sent.
I've almost deleted you a few times. But your non A-zon tweets were enough to keep me interested.
You're better than them and I wish you and Chaz the best. And now I'll follow and retweet more with enthusiasm!
Norm Farrell | March 25, 2011 4:53 AM | ReplyYou make it difficult for us plodders hanging out in the blogosphere. I hesitate to read my own parochial babble considering the alternative you provide. Today, your words bring cheer and laughter, other days, regret or sorrow, or attention and rumination, recollection or anticipation. You can transport to dreamland or leave me frozen in introspection. You, sir, are a master and an inspiration to lesser talents who aim to weave words for pleasure.
Jacob White | March 25, 2011 5:03 AM | ReplyHah!
Brass balls.
It's early for a College student, and that perked me up. Thanks, Roger! Now... to the coffee...
melissa | March 25, 2011 6:32 AM | Replyyou are a funny guy
Tony Berry | March 25, 2011 7:34 AM | ReplyI will assume that the brass balls may be purchased as a pair....
Linda | March 25, 2011 7:48 AM | ReplyI'm gonna miss your Amazon postings! I got a few items, spices, coconut oil, through the links. I'm all for helping you sustain your websites since you've brought me much reading pleasure over the years...
DS3M | March 25, 2011 9:01 AM | ReplyI definitely liked your twitter more when it was too many Real Items, as opposed to too many ads.
Mara | March 25, 2011 9:05 AM | ReplyRoger-
I will miss your amazon posts dearly. I guess I always assumed it was some sort of an experiment, but still appreciated the efforts. Although I myself never purchased anything from them (apologies) the male acquaintances in my life who are fans of yours deeply appreciated, in particular, your Valentine's gift posts, and I am certain they helped ease the tension of many a relationship around that "stressful" time of winter.
Sincerely,
Gilles Poitras | March 25, 2011 9:07 AM | Reply
EmesleaRoger:
Thanks for the report on your experiment.
I tend to avoid online buying from out of state. Having to deal with the paperwork for paying the taxes on such purchases is extra work. And in California you are required to pay taxes on all mail order purchases that have not had taxes included in the total.
I did follow the postings as a form of entertainment and was tempted to send you recommendations of Japanese cinema, anime etc. Of course that would have included urging you to post links to my own books, as an author I have to be shameless.
Garrett Cruce | March 25, 2011 9:07 AM | ReplyRoger,
Thank you for posting this. For one thing, it's very interesting to learn about your efforts to supplement your earnings so that you can realize your great ideas. It is also good to know why I saw so many tweets from you regarding deals on Amazon.Just yesterday I wondered why you tweeted so much about seemingly random deals on Amazon. I understood the references to deals on rice cookers and oatmeal and even the New Balance — I remember those. I also recall the various deals on DVD, which also made sense. I can't say that I'll miss the ads, as I felt that I was getting more offers than good old Ebert wisdom. I look forward to the wisdom as, I'm sorry to say, I never took you or Amazon up on the offers. I hope you continue to find creative ways to supplement your income. You might check out www.spreadshirt.com. You and Marie could find plenty of t-shirt buyers, I'm sure!
John Grigas | March 25, 2011 9:16 AM | ReplyWhat's amusing is that I have followed you more closely since you started shilling . . . you found me some great deals that I wouldn't have tripped over otherwise! Heck I used that as a reason for a couple #FF postings.
The links were just bonuses, though, because your tweets have always been smart and thought provoking, even without the chance to buy all of certain comic book runs on a DVD for a ridiculously low price.
Thanks, Roger. (Loving the PBS show, btw. Takes me back to those early days on WTTW)
Ron Calabraro | March 25, 2011 9:19 AM | ReplyLadies, that was me who bought How to Live with a Huge Penis.
Craig | March 25, 2011 9:20 AM | ReplyIn fact, Amazon didn't fire you, your state of Illinois screwed you over. Every state needs more money but the net result of this move is no sales tax from Amazon and you make a little less income to be taxed. It's a net loss for both you and the state of Illinois. It can't even be excused as unintended consequences since this is what Amazon has done in every state that's become grabby.
I liked your Amazon links and am sorry they won't be there anymore.
Alan Stout | March 25, 2011 9:20 AM | ReplyEpic!!! And hilarious.
I found nothing at all wrong with your Amazon associate, for what it's worth.
DeNirofan | March 25, 2011 9:24 AM | ReplyOh, thank God!!
Jacob | March 25, 2011 9:39 AM | Reply
Finally the hawking is over!
It was driving my crazy!
I almost stopped following you on twitter!
It's such a relief!So far as I know, you're the only prominent person who ever put real effort into being an Amazon Associate. The extent of your success would be valuable data concerning how viable of a business model it is. To that end, I think it wold be useful for you to publish just how much you made, though I would totally understand if you declined.
Rachel Robbins | March 25, 2011 9:39 AM | ReplyIf nothing else, you inspired a balanced, rational discussion on this subject. That's rare in itself and speaks to the rational atmosphere you have created, attracting large numbers of readers who are able to debate without (too much) rancor. An impressive feat on the internet!
Kaji | March 25, 2011 9:42 AM | ReplyWhile I was a little confused at first, I actually enjoyed the recommendations and even retweeted a few where I thought you had found a really good deal on something neat. I'm glad it worked out for you for a while!
Don | March 25, 2011 9:46 AM | ReplyEveryone's entitled to their own opinions, of course, but I really think most people create their own irritation over advertising. I was once guilty of it too, till my father patiently responded to one of my late-teen rants and raves with a simple question. "How else do you think people are going to find out about things they may want?"
I don't think anyone would argue against the idea that it's better when we find stuff by trusted recommendation - like when you posted about something you had personal experience with and liked - or by using or encountering it on our own. But sometimes that doesn't work, particularly with newer or more niche things. Other times I've forgotten about a challenge I faced in the kitchen or yard or car etc, and seeing a product mentioned is a trigger.
And of course none of that addresses entertainment advertising, without which I might not know there's a new movie or television show with a star or writer I have liked. It's fun to hate on commercials... till they're fun and creative or tell you something you didn't know about.
That's not a defense against shitty or omnipresent advertising. Obviously it can be done badly or be annoying - just like everything else. You can make a case whether or not it "belonged" in Ebert's twitter feed (though it seems like what belongs in his feed is what he chooses to put in his feed). But a knee-jerk hate for it is, in my not-so-humble opinion, misguided.
Tom Dark | March 25, 2011 10:22 AM | ReplyGee whiz, Roger, I admire that. Did you also sell Grit when you were a kid?
Ye$! I make fi$t$full$ of dollar$ $elling my poetry at Amazon.com and you can too! You don't even have to rhyme that good!
...Or even do proper Haiku! For example:
Oh, how beautiful I am...
Yet... the Universe...
...sigh...Brought me in a cool half-mil.
The other day somebody ran a news story about how a young lady writing vampire stories has made $600,000 selling through Amazon.com this year, after all these publishers turned her work down.
Stories like this are press releases meant to sell something else, but I expect there's some truth to it.
So, one of the most beautiful naked women in the world has put her hilarious romance novel up on Amazon to see how it goes. 7 copies in a few days ain't bad. To see an actual photograph of this beautiful naked woman, click on my name. But watch where you put those hands, buster.
Greg | March 25, 2011 10:23 AM | ReplyI want to be you when I grow up. That's all.
Jeff | March 25, 2011 10:35 AM | ReplyOh, that's what that was. I had NO idea. Given the shaky state of my profession in this economy, I have been casting around for income generating ideas. Trading options on my TD Ameritrade account is out. (I didn't actually try it, but it would fail). Amazon associate, now that might work. I'm in Washington State, which already charges Amazon sales tax, so I won't get fired. Only problem is the math. I have a Twitter account. (Under Ivartheboney) (Look it up, it is a really funny reference). Only problem is the math. I have one follower. But it is a really good one. It is the Beatles. If I am going to have one follower I figure it ought to be them. I even deleted my other follower just to keep it pure. And on Facebook, I have 95 friends. I have been trying to get to 100, but for some reason my old coworkers haven't responded to my friend requests. And my biggest hit on Youtube had 5200 hits.
The Tim Channel | March 25, 2011 10:41 AM | Reply
(search Emerson Silver Swan).Well, you've certainly got me wondering if I could leverage my half dozen daily website page views with my 98 Facebook friends and my 11 twitter followers, into more than just a seemingly impotent force in the cause of social justice and free weed!
From what I'm seeing, I might even be able to make enough off such efforts to buy a couple of those new high efficiency LED light bulbs every year. At worst, I'll become thoroughly acquainted with the increasingly obnoxious and popular trend du jour for creating wealth in cyberspace.
I like to imagine the irony of me posting a negative opinion on the proliferation and dangers of videogame violence by linking directly to specific examples of the latest offerings using the type of advertising widgets Amazon provides for you? If anyone has the brass balls to give it a shot, I'm the guy.
Enjoy.
Iris M. Gross | March 25, 2011 10:42 AM | ReplyImagine being in one's late 60s and still having a job. Think about that. Then think about why it's a bad thing to sell something on your own website. People are truly weird. Maybe paying for someone's opinion is not such a bad idea after all - gets people used to the concept.
By the way, PayPal sent me a renewal notice saying they had charged me for another year of the Ebert newsletter, and it was still for $4.99. I had forgotten that I had automatic renewal on that. So maybe I got grandfathered in at the old rate?
Sasha | March 25, 2011 11:00 AM | ReplyRelated digression:
Roger, since you are a fan of good cuisine and have often suggested cooking equipment and ingredients as an Amazon Associate, have you seen or otherwise have an opinion on the recently released culinary masterwork Modernist Cuisine?
(http://www.amazon.com/Modernist-Cuisine-Art-Science-Cooking/dp/0982761007)
Lynn McKenzie | March 25, 2011 11:06 AM | Reply@ Ron Calabraro: Wishful thinking, hmm?
I enjoyed your Amazon tweets, Roger, once you explained where you were coming from. I found half of that Hitchcock collection thanks to you (a two-disc set in Target for $2--should have bought it online, but I thought it was the same one. Oh well.), and it was psychologically interesting to see what you were interested in and what you thought your followers might like.
Finally, I'll second the complaint that you have far too much in each issue. Although I'm not really complaining. I just pick & choose and thank my lucky stars that I got into the Club for only $5 a year. I would probably pay $10, though; it's that good.
I. M. Strange | March 25, 2011 11:11 AM | ReplyDear Roger,
At first, I thought this might be some elaborate joke or hoax. Then I thought, maybe you just posted a link to sell something that may have been inappropriate for certain people on twitter (and it caused them to discontinue your program). Now I think that Illinois and its new sales tax legislation is being hypocritical. I know that theoretically they are probably passing this to benefit local, smaller businesses that may feel threatened by larger corporations like Amazon.com. However, some people have created small businesses around their affiliation sales, and this would in fact hurt local, individual entrepreneurs.
I'll miss your every-once-in-a-while "strange" product promotion.
I think, therefore I am strange.
Sincerely,
I. M. Strange
john in denver | March 25, 2011 11:17 AM | ReplyNow I'm saying this because it's true. Inside all of us, we all know you belong to the blog. You are the blog, it's the thing that keeps you going. If you were to leave that, you'd regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of your life. But what about Amazon? Well, we'll always have Amway.
KathyB | March 25, 2011 11:24 AM | ReplyWe already pay sales tax in KY for Amazon orders. There is a distribution center fifteen miles up the road from me. That is the official reason, company does physical business in the state. Reality is more that taxpayers were not volunteering the amount of purchasing done online so that they could pay it with income tax :)
Ads didn't bother me and I am very happy that you have been able to pay Marie for her marvelous work.
Illinois is in worse shape than we are, fiscally speaking. Our legislature had to go into contentious special session to deal with Medicaid shortfall. KY is old and sick and poor, from a Medicaid stand point. Republican senate leader who wants to be governor has blocked bipartisan House bills. Used to be the silly season. Now it is just mean season.
On the other hand ,March Madness works like bread and circuses.
Completely off topic: decided I was ready to read Proust. Went to my public library. Instead of Remembrance of Things Past ,as I remember the omnibus title, I found In Search of Lost Time. Apparently there is a new translation, even though I am not exactly familiar with the old one. What should I do? Dive in to the new or find the old?
And I am re-upped for the newsletter. Charter member you know. And I generally sample only a fraction of the offerings. Marie is amazing.
Paul J. Marasa | March 25, 2011 11:53 AM | ReplyI enjoyed your ads--downloaded the free Xmas music, and the rice cooker will be a birthday present for college-attending daughter. They became part of the mix of Twitter/Facebook postings, which by and large are not necessarily compelling--not that there's anything wrong with that. But it's a noise we've gotten used to, so I would glance at your ads as much as my actual friends' photos, reminiscences, YouTube links, and so on. Kind of sorry to see them go; I was building a nice imaginary shopping list for stuff I would probably never be able to buy.
Speaking of which--and in the interest of turnabout being fair play--let me once more shamelessly plug my blog-by-subscription for the Kindle, "Netflix Instant Play Picks of the Moment,"* yours for only 99 cents/month (click on my name above). Oh, the joy of buying something you can read for free online! I'm a marketing genius.
-------------------------
Oliver | March 25, 2011 12:40 PM | Reply
*Once Tweeted by Roger Ebert, famous for endorsing Ray-Bans and "the worst pop song in hisotry."Mazel tov!
Erich Reinstadler | March 25, 2011 12:48 PM | ReplyIt's a shame to lose your suggestions. I've picked up a couple of your more esoteric picks.
Moose replied to comment from Craig | March 25, 2011 12:50 PM | ReplyI can't be sympathetic to Amazon -- in Texas, they built a distribution warehouse -- because of that physical presence, they should be charging Texas sales tax. But no, they set it up so that the warehouse is owned by a subsidiary that they fully control (it's named Amazon.com KYDC), thus they don't have to pay. Of course, Texas thinks differently (and I'm on their side in this case), thus the whole recent hullabaloo down there.
Jillian Brooke | March 25, 2011 1:00 PM | ReplyI didn't know the story behind it, but I genuinely enjoyed looking at what you'd post! I thought you were just a great deal finder. I'll miss them.
Rachel | March 25, 2011 1:01 PM | ReplyCanned oatmeal?!
lantenec | March 25, 2011 1:04 PM | Reply""Who wears Dockers?" a Friend sneered."
Tim | March 25, 2011 1:17 PM | Reply
I always love this kind of statement. People who wear Dockers, that's who wears them. For some reason that always reminds me of that Pauline Kael quote, "I can't believe Nixon won, no one I know voted for him!" lolI see at least half a dozen copies of that Hitchcock DVD every time I rifle through the $5 DVD bin at Walmart.
KWJ | March 25, 2011 1:19 PM | ReplyI wish Illinois luck, but until every state does it, I suspect they're just shooting themselves in the foot.
Meanwhile, the Bill Clinton Screwdriver, for whatever reason, had me laughing hysterically. Made my day!
Gerry Allen | March 25, 2011 1:21 PM | ReplyI believe that you are incorrect that the State of Illinois will be collecting any sales tax from Amazon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/technology/14amazon.html
Here the Arizona legislature is trying to pass the very same "Nexus" bill which in essence would only cause Amazon to drop the affiliate program within the state and provide no additional revenue.
Now the legislature wants to raise taxes on the poor and give a tax cut to the wealthy via a "flat tax".
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/03/25/20110325arizona-flat-income-tax-hike.html
Brian A. Oard | March 25, 2011 1:22 PM | ReplyI tried the Amazon Associate thing a while back on my little literature blog, Mindful Pleasures. I added a sidebar box in which Amazon would automatically list items that, at least theoretically, were related to my blog's content. Well, for three months, while I blogged on writers such as W.G. Sebald, Yasunari Kawabata, Thomas Pynchon, William T. Vollmann, Theodor Adorno, et al., Amazon advertised nothing in the box but the series of 'Twilight' books. So much for targeted marketing.
Kayode | March 25, 2011 1:29 PM | ReplyI see what you did there, Roger!
Rich Wielgosz | March 25, 2011 1:41 PM | ReplyAt first I didn't know why you were posting those amazon links, but I enjoyed the many things to which you linked. Then I found out you had an Amazon Affiliate thing going, and I wondered "why does Roger need any more money" and I suspected you had some interesting thing going, which I just learned of, or you just liked finding cool and clever deals, and you wanted to pass them on to your readers. In either case, I will miss it. The items you linked to were AWESOME, and I hope you find a cool way to do something similar in the future.
Dewane | March 25, 2011 2:12 PM | ReplyI was going to say, I wonder if Ed Murrow would have sold canned peaches, had he a "harvest of shame" web page. But then that got me ruminating: I have to go that far back to think of a journalist with those kinds of ethics? We don't have a Bill Paley or somebody who is willing to take a loss and think of news as the prestige part of television. It's tough for artists, journalists, musicians, and writers of all types these days and you've gotta do what you've gotta do. The best thing to do is make the money doing unimportant things, so you can spend the time to do the important things - as George Clooney says, "one for them, and one for me" - and from reading this, that's exactly what you used Amazon affiliates for.
James S. | March 25, 2011 2:32 PM | ReplyJust to second John Hubanks's comment: thank you, Roger, for turning me on to the rice cooker. I use it four to five times a week to make rice and/or steam vegetables, and several times a month to make oatmeal. Speaking of the oatmeal, I had no idea how incredibly awesome whole steel cut oats were until you recommended them. And the coconut water? I couldn't imagine that oatmeal made from anything else.
Jeff Nelson | March 25, 2011 2:53 PM | ReplyHi Roger,
If you're really interested in making some money, I've got an offer for you.
I'll pay $19.95 cash money to you in return for a review of a short film I made a while back.I have had a life long passion for movies and I had the opportunity to finally make one thru the UCLA short film program back in 1997. It's a quirky romantic comedy and runs just 17 minutes. I've never worked in the film business but just love movies.
My film is also responsible for me being only one degree of separation from Jennifer Aniston. I will explain. Mark Holton was in my film. Mark Holton was in Leprechan. Jennifer Aniston was in Leprechan. I'm very proud of that fact.
Jeff Nelson
Ken Hildebrand | March 25, 2011 3:21 PM | ReplyYou're free to do whatever you like with your Twitter account, as we all are, but I found the shilling more than a little annoying. Trading on your name to sell random stuff for Amazon felt unseemly, and all in all the ads subtracted value from your other, far more interesting commentary.
As a longtime fan I'll always appreciate your work and your writing, but I for one won't miss the ads.
Mike Spearns | March 25, 2011 3:25 PM | ReplyWas this your first time being fired? It'll grow hair on your chest.
Thom | March 25, 2011 4:09 PM | ReplyHm! I wish I had known how that worked - I would have used your links to segue into my normal purchases to kick you some bucks. Normally what you were suggesting was something I would look at out of curiosity, but wasn't for me. I totally understand the concept, and the people that were complaining about how your twitter was marred by ads seem to forget it's free.
At any rate, that is at least one less thing you have to bother with, even if it cuts off a pretty serious (for the time spent) revenue stream.
T.J. Lemieux | March 25, 2011 4:11 PM | ReplyAs nice as it is to buy on Amazon and get a cheap and tax free purchase, you are right in saying it isn't really fair. The laws are behind the times when it comes to all things internet.
Mike | March 25, 2011 4:12 PM | ReplyRoger, I love how in this entry, you sneakily posted about 10 amazon adds within the text itself. NIce job! Since I was going to make a few orders of amazon, I might just do it through one of your links! :)
EdH | March 25, 2011 4:44 PM | Reply
Hope you always get the support you need to keep this website going, you and your reviews will never cease to amaze and entertain me!whoops, didn't know you had to purchase that session. I have things like the shaving soap in my wishlist. Anyway, just clicked through and picked up a Kindle, just for old time's sake.
fairuse | March 25, 2011 4:47 PM | ReplyThat was an interesting experiment. I must say I got my;
Alfred Hitchcock - The Legend Begins (20 Movie Classics)
Love it. And it is currently $5.99, I clicked thru to see if it was out-of-stock.
Take Care.
Joe Flagg | March 25, 2011 5:02 PM | ReplyI enjoyed your Amazon tweets and will miss them. Who would ever have guessed you can buy a can of oatmeal for $25.
Ebert: That's for *four* cans. It cooks up real nice.
cubist | March 25, 2011 5:06 PM | ReplyI couldn't be happier with the Hitchcock DVD you shilled. I, for one, will miss tweets like the corduroy dress.
Anne Settanni | March 25, 2011 5:11 PM | Reply
loved your blog today, I wondered why you were selling stuff, the huge penis book was the very best-will buy several to use for 'stocking stuffers' next christmas.
Bill Hays | March 25, 2011 5:32 PM | ReplyGeorge Lucas was surprised when Boba Fett became a marketing giant.
You've missed the concept of Synergy. You sell toys that represent the characters you create in a movie. Original characters that don't exist in reality. Something they have to buy from you because it doesn't exist anywhere else.
Everything in your links can be purchased locally, cheaper.
You need to start with a moive. A movie with the Art direction of "Alice in Wonderland" and the music of "Star Wars" "The Sound of Music" "Saturday Night Fever."
Selling the soundtrack to your movie could be the biggest moneymaker of all.
Your career in retail has stalled because you don't have a great Musical written and produced by Roger Ebert to generate original characters and products that aren't available from other sources.
I have a collection of Bobbleheads of George Lucas and his family - Jett, Amanda and Katie. bought them on sale from the Star Wars store because they didn't appear in the movies.
John Travolta is not the world's greatest movie star. He appeared in "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever" and those are great movies because of the music and the dancing.
I'm not saying "Do this." I'm saying, the reason your retail career failed is because you tried to sell generic products instead of producing something original on your own.
Marla | March 25, 2011 5:43 PM | ReplyI am so nieve, I thought you would troll Amazon and suggest bargains that you thought were appropriate. I thought it was nice.
Shaz | March 25, 2011 5:56 PM | ReplyRoger,
This post is hilarious!
btw... from your tweet, I linked to story of laptop tealeaf comeuppance.... and thought I'd send this link, apologies if you've seen already. Geez, have we been duped? Such a bloody good story too.http://peoplelikingpeople.blogspot.com/2011/03/mark-bao-theft-story-why-it-doesnt-add.html
ps have you tried chinese sausages in your ricecooker! mmmmm!!
Carol | March 25, 2011 6:09 PM | ReplyI signed up for Twitter on the strength of your love of it and abandoned it about three days later when the unending avalanche of stuff I didn't care to make time for came cascading into my electronic life and I plainly saw that **it would never stop** and I would never catch up. I still can't imagine why people use it. Clearly, I'm missing something and I really just don't care. I **want** to miss it. The sheer quantity of the deluge was almost scary.
Don't they have that offer in Chicago where, if you let a company plaster their ad over your car, you get some money?
I know I sound sour. It just seems like everybody I know is pimping themselves on the web, tryin' to make it, make it, make it and it gets really wearying. When the Seattle Times goes pay-per-view, I may do it but that's as far as I go.
Tina | March 25, 2011 6:13 PM | ReplyRoger, I quite enjoyed your Amazon 'treasures'. They were fun and amusing. I probably checked out every item, that you posted, whether I was interested or not. I'm sorry to see them go, but I'm sure you'll find something else, to amuse us, your fans :)
Steve | March 25, 2011 7:15 PM | ReplyThanks for the link to the Levi corduroy pants I purchased at Amazon. I like 'em, but makes my butt look big.
TJ | March 25, 2011 7:38 PM | ReplyI like that Amazon allows its associate members to take a percentage on any items bought after a click-through from the member's page. I have taken advantage of this fact to support James Berardinelli's site by remembering, just before making an Amazon purchase, to go to his site first and click through to my Amazon account from there, as a way of supporting his work.
I thought it was a good system and I am sorry you no longer get to take advantage of it.
KathyB | March 25, 2011 7:49 PM | ReplySo, if you are still an Amazon associate until April 15, we still have almost three weeks to generate kickbacks for the blog ventures :)
You have a tinker's spirit applied to cyberspace, Entrepreneurial if we want to get fancy.
Guillermo Lande | March 25, 2011 8:16 PM | ReplyI bought a few things off your links to try to help you (like Baraka blu-ray even though I already had Baraka DVD), but I'm on Amazon's side for pulling out of Chicago.
I don't see this as Amazon dumping you, Roger. I see it as your city state trying to tax me unrighteously when I'm not even there.
If I buy something in Michigan online, I'm fine with the tax that happens from that because I live there. If I buy something from Chicago, that's a tax I won't accept.
James Benet | March 25, 2011 8:58 PM | ReplyRoger...
If you ever got back into the Amazon Associate bandwagon I could take a dozen adds a day no problem, I even bought a couple of your tweeted DVD products. good deals!
However you could donate lets say 50% to charity or relief efforts around the world, it would help your great site and the world as a whole. What a great way to get charity donations. Japan could be first!
Gisele | March 25, 2011 9:52 PM | ReplyI purchased a couple of things you posted, and I enjoyed the things you found. That is too bad about the tax, the states need it badly.
Greetings from a student od Dan Curley!
BrigittaV | March 25, 2011 10:09 PM | ReplyMeh. Everyone has a right to make a living, and advertising is a fact of American life. Besides, from the moment Roger linked to the complete set of Farscape I was charmed. It was clear to me that his choices of goods were quirky, and some considerable thought went into them. I paid attention to his Amazon suggestions the way I pay attention to something suggested by a wise and kindly uncle who only has my best interests at heart.
Karl-Heinz | March 25, 2011 10:18 PM | ReplyI liked your little Amazon choices. They had that Rebertesque feeling.
Rebertesque; To choose something deliberately as opposed to arbitrarily or haphazardly. To decide on something because it is felt to be 'proper', i.e.: precisely suiting the moment or occasion.
Like the pictures in your blog writings. Those are very Rebertesque. I don't know if you spend huge amounts of time searching out these choices. Perhaps you start with six or seven options, then narrow it down, narrow it down, finally deciding on one photo at a time. The one proper photo, which expresses your sentiment.Then of course, the words, and sentences! I find your writing has this essence of deliberate choice and that's what I admire about it. Though you start off broadly, you often funnel the reader down to something specific. In other words you have a knack for knowing exactly what you want to say and then saying it. I was subscribed to your newsletter but decided it wasn't for me since the writing style there did not have these qualities. Happily, your regular postings here give me plenty to peruse.
One final note. Though I wouldn't pay again for the newsletter, I would happily pay to be a member of your blog - should you choose to make it a members only thing. Consider an Ebert Magazine which is constructed around your writing as it's primary content but which has supporting articles by the Far-Flung, and other guest writers. Perhaps some art for display/sale by people like Marie. Make it a monthly and not too big, perhaps five pieces in all - two articles by you, and three other pieces of different descriptions. Charge $5 an issue. I'd happily pay that.
Marie Haws | March 25, 2011 10:38 PM | ReplyWhen it comes to advertising, I prefer a soft sell or a humorous one; like that recent Volkswagen TV ad featuring a young, would-be Darth Vader trying to move things using just the power of the Force; chuckle!
Jana J. Monji | March 25, 2011 11:19 PM | Reply
And those Amazon ads struck me as a soft sell, too. Ie: they show and tell without distracting you in a bad way - like an annoying blinking flash ad. BUY ME! BUY ME!
Sigh.
I'm anal about Ads, though. Ask Roger. I get angry if I can't find a trailer for the Newsletter "sans pop-ups". I just want to see if a movie looks good, dammit, I don't want to buy a first-person shooter game! Stop popping-up messages about the stupid video game!
You know?
And why you'll rarely see a trailer inside the Club, with a pop-up. A trailer "is" a commercial for a movie. Placing another one inside it sends me running. Unless of course, it's a reasonable marriage of art and commerce.
Example: R.E.M's new album uses a music trailer to help promote it...
Collapse Into Now
But that's me. I hate aggressive marketing tactics. And why I was thrilled to help Roger with the Ebert Club Newsletter, when asked.
It's a creative way now, to solicit funds - money needed to subsidize the cost of maintaining and managing the Journal - which is otherwise a drain on the Sun-Times resources. Ie: it needs to pull its own weight. And you can either sell a membership to the journal and for far more than $10 a year.. or.... you hire a freelance artist at a special rate and toss in the Ebert Club for your readers as a perk.
I'll be blunt: I'm cheap; smile. But for asking less. I wanted to help support the journal too! And in exchange, I often get to have fun, like including a video about a goldfish playing soccer...
R2 Goldfish Training Kit
As that's just awesome. :-)
And it's not just me. I'm not an uber-software technician, like Scott Edwards. And unlike Jim Emerson, I don't know how to do everything he does, for Roger behind the scenes.
So your $5.00 a year went towards the cost of the entire journal. And I don't think everyone understood where the money was going?
With or without the Ebert Club, the Journal needs to be financially subsidized. And even with club dues, Roger had to supplement how little he'd asked, by way of sticking in Amazon wiggies.
Without the Journal, you'd have his reviews and answer man. And without an added attraction (the Journal) serving to help draw traffic to the site - eventually like the New York Times, even that would go behind a pay-wall.
The main site and the journal and the Ebert Club have a symbiotic relationship wherein they all feed into one another and help support the bigger picture - Roger's world - where it sometimes snows, and trees fall on his neighbors lawn, and his assistant Carol is willing to share pictures of a visit to a ice cream parlor near the Michigan woods where ghosts hide behind dear and Roger spent the summer working on his memoirs. It supports stories unrelated to movies but no less vital and important - Steak n Shake: In Sight, It Must Be Right - not to mention choices that shall live forever in infamy - like the day he decided to post "video games can never be art".
All that stuff, all that content (not only film reviews) is what he wants to save, protect and share.
And for helping, he tosses in a club where sometimes a goldfish can seen scoring a goal akin Pele at the World Cup. :-)Makes me want to become an Amazon associate. I didn't mind the Amazon ads. Seriously as someone who spends so much time on the Net, I didn't even really see them except for some of the funny ones.
What really turns people away: pop ups and pop unders. The website I write for uses them extensively and I was can say that not only do they bother me when I post, other writers have read complaints posted on other discussions/websites about our extensive usage of them.
Sorry about the Amazon thing, but now I'm encouraged to give Amazon a try again.
MJ Dulmage | March 25, 2011 11:41 PM | ReplyAdd me to the voices who always enjoyed the Amazon ads. I actually did buy a few things -- not necessarily the ones advertised, but on the same trip to the website -- but it was the eclectic mass of stuff you linked that was fun for me.
I also wholeheartedly support your reason for stopping, and for playing by the rules of a fair law.
I also wanted to thank you for the gift of the Ebert Club (I pay for it, but I still see it as a bargain and a gift) and dear Marie, who always puts together issues full of wonder and excitement, never fails to respond quickly and wittily to an e-mail query, and whose sense of pop culture and humor I have grown to anticipate with every edition this last year.
I appreciate you, sir, like little else on these here internets.
thom | March 26, 2011 12:08 AM | Replyit will be a great day when a state gets all the money it needs and the koch brothers have to hold a bake sale to buy a politician...
Adam Zanzie | March 26, 2011 1:51 AM | ReplyHuh. I was wondering why you had tweeted an Amazon link for the Twin Peaks Gold Box Set some time ago -- I recall that you once expressed a dislike of Twin Peaks in your old review of Lynch's Wild at Heart (and, knowing how much television you've admitted to missing, I had no idea you had the time on your hands to watch Twin Peaks at all). Now I know why.
TilmanS. | March 26, 2011 4:11 AM | ReplyI was surprised and a bit irritated when I first noticed your amazon ads, but I sometimes looked the stuff up on amazon.com. However some items I was interrested in where not available in my country's amazon store (Germany/amazon.de) like the ricecooker or the New Balance sneakers.
Daniel S, Pago Pago | March 26, 2011 5:02 AM | Reply
So for me it is best not to see your recommendations any more.So I recently broke up with my girlfriend of allllmost one year, over the course of the last couple weeks (it's been messy). We had been in a long distance relationship since september, and we started going out March 28th.
So, I saw your ad for that diamond angel wing necklace that I was planning on getting her for our anniversary. But more than a month ago I decided to send her the present early, and she loved it, and looked seriously pretty in. Too bad I hadn't waited till our anniversary, because I would have known our relationship wasn't working long before I'd of had to order it.
So... maybe it's best you're done.
Not that it wasn't an excellent bargain, though.
Haley J. | March 26, 2011 9:17 AM | ReplyI, for one, have very much enjoyed seeing your Amazon recommedations on my Facebook newsfeed. Some were compelling, and others made me smile. I'm rather sad that the cessation of the Amazon Associate program in Illinois is going to end your product recommendations, but I have no doubt that you'll replace them with equally interesting content. I'm looking forward to what's next!
Robert Canipe | March 26, 2011 9:19 AM | ReplyI enjoyed your suggestions. Moreover, you are a funny, funny man and the chuckles you give the world are needed.
Live long and prosper!
Adam | March 26, 2011 9:23 AM | ReplyI'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but at the same time I'm not sad to see all the ads in my feed go. :)
James | March 26, 2011 9:42 AM | ReplyOh good. I thought I had lost my mind for a minute and Amazon was inserting the items to buy based on the context of the article.
Paul Arrand Rodgers | March 26, 2011 1:00 PM | ReplyIf I remember correctly, your first Amazon links were on "The Pot and How to Use It," which led me to buying a much better rice cooker than my $10 Black and Decker, which led to me getting a recipe into The Pot and How to Use It, so I never begrudged your advertisements, and was delighted when you got around to tweeting the link to McCann's Oatmeal, which was what I'd been looking for, breakfast wise, for some time. It's a shame Amazon can't bring itself to pay state sales tax. Those tweets will be missed.
EricJ | March 26, 2011 1:27 PM | ReplyI've got a HUNDRED Amazon Associates, wherever I go--
Our local school has one. The favorite Disney blog I frequent has one. The movie forum I frequent has one.
And yes, everyone who manages a blog or forum needs a touch of Soulless Advertising to pay the costs (I thought Sun-Times paid them!), but it does come up against one basic problem: People who go to Amazon don't need "agents" the way we used to go to a mysterious third party to buy plane tickets, and if we want to buy something from Amazon, our first gut instinct is to go there directly. Associate links are now often up there as "charity" to "Help us out!" on the site, and like most charity, we self-contented folk...usually end up forgetting about it.Like Facebook, Amazon wanted to turn Social Networking into Commerce, and vice versa--You're not being "fired", they're dropping the idea because of too many tax strings that put the messy details into the dream.
Carra | March 26, 2011 1:56 PM | Reply
I've often bought Blu-rays on Amazon, but have to confess, it's just never occurred to me to buy imported oatmeal AND give someone else a cut out of the goodness of my heart, so I'm afraid I just haven't been one of the sources of More Than You Might Think And Less Than You Expect. Um...sorry. :(Been running an addblocker for years so never noticed anything.
But I'm glad to see that my $5 went to a good cause.
Cynthia | March 26, 2011 2:01 PM | ReplyMy husband and I will always be grateful to you for recommending "Make Way for Tomorrow." We'd likely never have seen it without your suggestion. A marvelous movie!
Freehawk | March 26, 2011 3:49 PM | ReplyI never minded the Amazon references. Kind of like things your uncle suggests you ought to buy.
And this column is funny. "If you liked this, you might like ..." Even algorithms can make jokes now.
KathyB | March 26, 2011 5:58 PM | ReplyAnd, Marie, you take great care of the clubhouse. I'm happy that you let Roger pay you a pittance. Ebert World has grown so big, but has so much deliciousness in it.
Without Marie I would never have heard of Steampunk. And a myriad of other things.
Many treasures enjoyed. I think my saved graphic of Dear Spamfilter - in homage to Fargo may have gone with the now dead previous laptop. But then again, it is probably clickable on the right side of the journal. So much is right there.
oneofus | March 26, 2011 6:10 PM | ReplyDoes this explain your relentless shilling of Ramin Bahrani??? How much a percentage does that talentless, arrogant creep give you for each of his crummy dvds that he sells? I'm surprised you haven't legally adopted him! Does Amazon do adoptions yet? I've never seen a more pathetic puppy waiting to be petted by a master than Ramin. "Good puppy, thank you for all those race-based poverty tours! Now fetch! Go find some talent, like David Gordon Green or any of your betters!" Amazon Adoptions presents "The Adoption of Ramin Bahrani." I bet he could release that on DVD and pay Herzog to do another idiotic commentary!
TJ | March 26, 2011 7:21 PM | ReplyHey Rog this has probably been suggested to you before so I apologize if it's redundant, but I think an interesting way for you to make some money to keep the site up is to create a mobile app for accessing your reviews. I often read your reviews on the go with my smartphone. I read them from the website on my phone's browser, which works of course, but I prefer the formatting that mobile apps provide. I know this would require more costs to pay a developer to create and maintain the app, but I for one would gladly pay $10 for an app that helps me read your reviews easier on my phone, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment.
P.S. If you do ever create a mobile app, please please PLEASE do not just develop for the iPhone as so many developers tend to do, but show the other platforms like Android and WebOs some love. I rock Android and WebOs so I would be left in the dark ;)
mattstan | March 26, 2011 9:23 PM | ReplyI think the old phrase "I'd listen to [insert actor/orator here] read the phone book" could stand an update:
I would gladly read Roger Ebert selling me corduroy.
Arsen Azizyan | March 26, 2011 10:31 PM | ReplyI'm one of the poor victims who renewed the Newsletter for $10. It's a brilliant thing, though a bit daunting because of the sheer amount of stuff that it usually contains. I can only watch about half a dozen short films before I have to do other stuff :P
It's good that you guys are trying to keep your review site free and accessible - it's a wonderful resource. Unfortunately, the search on your site is horribly broken. There are broken links, things that go online and come back offline - I have been trying to find your review for "In The Loop," which I know must exist since I saw it briefly around the film's release, but it has since disappeared. Browsing reviews used to work 5-6 years ago, but now the link brings back an empty page.
I don't know if the problems are easily fixable without paying extra thousands for hardware or having to hire someone to rebuild the search database..
Ebert: Switching to Yahoo improved the search greatly, but now we are in the process of moving the whole big database to another provider, and you wouldn't believe how screwed up the existing provider turned out to be. Sometimes it works to search after "ebert" in Google. Should be cleared up in a month.
Lujza | March 26, 2011 11:36 PM | ReplyDear Mr. Ebert,
I'm sorry you had to turn to this "Amazon income" in order to be able to post things on your website. I'm not a web designer, animator, or anything fancy like that. I'm just an English major in college, making a few dollars from tutoring and reviewing term papers for other students. But if you ever needed someone to type, review, or correct any written materials for you, I would happily volunteer what little aid I could provide. It would be an honor for me to help you out.
Sincerely,
Lujza NehrebeczkyEbert: Aw...I'm touched.
Chris | March 27, 2011 12:12 AM | ReplyIf it ever gets to that point, I would happily pay to view your website. The quality and quantity of your reviews and blogs definitely warrants compensation.
Ian | March 27, 2011 12:56 AM | ReplyAt the risk of ruining your relief at no longer having to trawl through Amazon, it seems like you could easily keep doing this if you really wanted/needed to. You'd just have to set up an Amazon account with an address outside of Illinois (or any other such state).
For instance, the person who writes the newsletter and derives income from your Amazon links. You could set up a new account under her address, assuming she would be happy with the arrangement. (This wouldn't interfere with either of your other Amazon accounts, by the way.) You could probably also simply add a new address to your existing account, and claim that for the purposes of being paid.
You said Vancouver, right? I don't know if Amazon offers the associate thing in Canada, but maybe you mean Vancouver, WA. In any case, I imagine you have other professional relationships with people outside Illinois, and you are doubtlessly resourceful.I think I did buy some noodles you were shilling, once.
Ebert: Good noodles, eh?
The problem with your plan is that I would still be posting Amazon links to the out of state Associates account, and that would make me hypocritical.
Teddy C.D. | March 27, 2011 1:03 AM | ReplyWell, I suppose it was a good run while it lasted--at least you sold some items and paid attention to what you were doing. At least you didn't end up like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2i-MJoeVQg&feature=related
Mark Stevens | March 27, 2011 7:18 AM | Reply
Anyways, best of luck with the show and maintaining the website, Roger.For a moment while reading this piece I started hearing Andy Rooney's voice in my head instead of yours. The "i'm listening to Andy Rooney discuss the things he's tried to sell" smile curled the sides of my mouth up a bit as I read and realized I was reading in Andy's voice and not yours.
You still have a voice though you may not think you do. All your readers probably hear you when they read your posts.
I have noticed that you seem to enjoy movies more now than you did prior to your illness. I have checked your star ratings from decades ago and you were much less willing to advise spending money on a film than you have been the past couple of years.
I suppose you could have decided to check out films which you believe are worth your time and just dispense with much of the chaff out there. Or perhaps you have just become less aggressive with age. I am certainly a bit less likely to pick apart a film if it keeps my attention. I've just turned 60 and I don't have a young man's testosterone.
While I'm typing I want to comment on your Times piece about Elizabeth Taylor since I was too lazy to sign up to comment there.
I had a chance many years ago to be around her at a book signing. She reminded me of a neighbor of mine who was about her age. The neighbor lady looked a lot like Liz too. After listening to her chat with her "people" and all the unwashed masses who lined the store to get an autograph, I was shocked to realize that this lovely, decent, and apparently somewhat insecure regular lady (who could well be my apartment neighbor) could do Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. That filth simply could not come out of her mouth! That vile, horrific, foul-mouthed person simply could not be in this woman. Yet it was. She was a great actress. Not just another pretty face with a violet eye.David Witz | March 27, 2011 12:14 PM | Reply
I remember when our Sun-Times colleague Al Rudis had a little party at his house, back in the mid-70s, for the other music writers from the Daily News and Tribune. None of us were told there'd be an Amway presentation. That's kind of the same situation I figured you had with Amazon. Not a bad idea, just ill-fitting for you (and for Al).
Guillermo Lande | March 27, 2011 1:35 PM | ReplyWith regard to: "Ebert: Good noodles, eh? The problem with [Ian's] plan [to use a non-Illinois friend's account] is that I would still be posting Amazon links to the out of state Associates account, and that would make me hypocritical."
Huh? How so. Corporations normally incorporate in the state that has the most tax friendly laws to them. It did not escape my notice that when I worked in Ford's central office for the world in Dearborn, Michigan all the legal papers were signed that it was a Delaware company.
Ford did business out of Michigan but picked a state with better tax laws for it. That's normal.
Roger, you tried to do business in Illinois, but the Illinois tax laws put you out of business. It would be silly not to pick another state.
Jorg Benior | March 27, 2011 6:22 PM | ReplyHow can I trust your reviews from now on? Maybe they're connected to somekind of retailing site where you get a certain amount from dvd sales?
I almost bought a blu-ray player because you recommended it. Something I really didn't need when I thought about it for a while. So you have to use your credibility in a good way.
Rick Starr | March 27, 2011 7:49 PM | ReplySorry about you getting fired, but it happens to the best of us. Perhaps now you will have time to resuscitate 'The Answer Man"? He's been down for months now, yes no?
Trevor | March 27, 2011 8:25 PM | ReplyIt's nice to hear a candid account of how this all worked (and didn't work) out for you. You're absolutely right that, as tech-savvy as many internet users are, they're generally clueless about upkeep costs, or maybe they're just happily unconcerned. It's also interesting to see how you, with such a large fan base, have run into some trouble generating as much support as you'd like. Sometimes a Wikipedia-style "We need your help" works better than ads, since it prompts users to think about the possibility of losing the site altogether. It's also a more direct call to action. PBS and NPR do pretty well with it, and I think most people would donate without the free Elvis DVD or tote bag that you get. Not me of course, but other people.
I have one website that's popular enough, and creating revenue to support the site has been a continuing learning process. I'd run it without making a profit - I already have - but heck, a little extra support never hurts and can make for a great motivator. Thanks for a behind-the-scenes look into your run as a salesman, and I'll keep a closer eye on your sites to see how I can lend a hand in the near future.
Poeju | March 27, 2011 9:17 PM | ReplyI just got the newsletter to donate money. I rarely read it, but enjoy it when I do. I have it sent to an email address I rarely check because of all the junk mail when I get there, but when I happen to find a recent issue in my inbox, I revel in it.
Ebert: Aw, it's good. Let it into your real mailbox.
Sean Anderson | March 27, 2011 11:06 PM | ReplyBeing in Australia I can't purchase anything on Amazon anyway. Not unless I pay through the roof for a postage forwarding service. So to me, the Amazon links were nothing more than annoying spam.
I now have a habit of glancing at the bottom of all your tweets to check for an Amazon link before reading the tweet itself. I'm glad I'll soon be able to read all your tweets with confidence in knowing it's probably something worth reading again.
I'll admit I never really understood why you would need to advertise products for pennies in the first place. You're Roger Ebert for crying out loud. You know Oprah!
Thomas Krul | March 27, 2011 11:45 PM | ReplyGreat post... how come so few people seem to notice that it's comedic gold?
Anyway, for what it's worth, ads and shilling alongside decent content are cool with me. People gotta eat, and nice, well-deserved vacations don't pay for themselves.
If the ISPs could somehow figure out a privileged relationship with sellers, you'd see a hell of a lot more penny-style transactions. It always seemed odd to me that instead of Flooz or Beanz, PayPal or credit cards, someone didn't figure out a way to bill through people's ISPs (who already have a relationship with the client and are already billing them). I guess the apple iStore is pretty much the next-best thing; maybe soon we can purchase yearly subscriptions to your newsletter without having to enter our credit card information on another web site for the umpteenth time.
Fan Jin | March 28, 2011 2:48 AM | ReplyAs both a loyal reader and a current Amazon employee, I'm sad to see this happen. It was nice knowing you were part of the Associates program -- like finding out someone you really admire came from the same high school/college/neighbourhood block. Hopefully all this internet retail law stuff gets sorted out soon and we can have you back with or without a state sales tax.
PS. Might I recommend the Subscribe and Save option for the Oatmeal? You save 15% off your order and can cancel the subscription with just one click of a button any time you get tired of oatmeal for breakfast.
jrdeaver | March 28, 2011 6:00 AM | ReplyLoved the items you listed from Amazon. There's a tradition of well-known journalist/ citizens advertising products. Eleanor Roosevelt did a TV commercial for Blue Bonnet Margarine, as I recall.
Pete Thomas | March 28, 2011 10:24 AM | ReplyMaybe you could start a tiered fundraiser.
$10 gets you a years subscription to the newsletter
$100 and all your comments will colored gold!
$1000 and Roger will personally "like" your facebook page.
$10000 and Roger will respond to all your comments, no matter how asinine they are.
$100000 Roger will watch any movie you choose and review it.:-)
cee | March 28, 2011 11:17 AM | Replyaha! I was wondering what the amazon links were about. Now that I know, I wish they were around to stay.
Thanks for the promo about Ebert Club. I'd never heard of it before, but it sounds promising, so I just bought a subscription. I must say that the timing was right. With conversion, it is still only CAD $10.07. :)
john in denver | March 28, 2011 11:43 AM | ReplyIn related news, Harry Coover, the inventor of Super Glue, has been loosed from all earthly bonds. He was 94.
Daniel Shumski | March 28, 2011 11:53 AM | ReplyRoger, I'm an Illinois blogger too. I kept my Amazon links in place but switched the referral code over to Mercy Corps, the relief agency. Now they get a cut whenever someone buys something via my site.
Maybe that's an option for you? I imagine there would still be things you'd want to recommend occasionally.
Lisa B | March 28, 2011 1:31 PM | ReplyThe "movement" to oppose proposed state laws regarding sales tax on online purchases is largely a corporate one (i.e., Amazon and others). Meanwhile local businesses and local business organizations, such as the Metro Independent Business Alliance - http://www.metroiba.org - in Minnesota, are advocating for such laws to level the playing field for locally owned and operated business that find it hard to compete when they must charge sales tax on their goods and services and Amazon doesn't have to. Minnesota is considering such a law, like many other states, and I believe once *this* movement has gained momentum, Amazon will not find very many states left that it can run to.
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA | March 28, 2011 2:54 PM | ReplyI wonder if Charlie Sheen had better luck selling, given his more extensive Facebook and Twitter "retinue"? ;)
Your selling forays are, if inadvertent, still somewhat disconcerting reminders of the "Madoff bane". Are you that penurious? Between your journalistic/"critical" income and text publishings and Chaz's salary as an attorney, I would have thought you were financially secure. Hmm. ;S
Finally, by posting on this blog some of the items you attempted to entice your followers to buy on Amazon, you are still in essence selling something, again even if inadvertently. Clevvverrr!
Ebert: Chaz has not worked as an attorney for years. The Amazon links were intended to improve a FREE website, and as an experiment in a way to monitize sites.
Blane | March 28, 2011 4:47 PM | ReplyHey Roger,
You have probably done this already, but talk to James Berardinelli about website income. He wrote a blog a while ago in which he stated that his Amazon experience was tantamount to your experience.
Karl-Heinz replied to comment from John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA | March 28, 2011 9:38 PM | ReplyQuote...John P;Your selling forays are, if inadvertent, still somewhat disconcerting reminders of the "Madoff bane". Are you that penurious?
Are you naturally that sardonic, or do you have to make a special effort?
No doubt Roger is financially secure, and deservedly so. Though nothing cures wealth like cancer. However, you can put all that aside since Roger states clearly in this very article 'that so far he hasn't seen any income' from his FREE website. (what's the html code for double bold blinking red letters?)
As stated above in the actual text, the money generated goes to pay the well-deserved salary of one Marie Haws. So there you have it. A worthwhile effort all around which provides a regular working stiff with additional income, and several aspiring young writers an outlet for their budding talents. All finance by a ridiculously small subscription fee and a few innocuous links to Electric Bikes, Brothel Creepers and Boner Books. Hardly enough to get your shorts in a twist over John.
Jay | March 29, 2011 12:12 AM | ReplyI bought the watch. It's really too big for my little wrist though.
Dave Van Dyke | March 29, 2011 7:49 AM | ReplyDamn. You've discovered my pseudonym: Richard Jacob.
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA replied to comment from Karl-Heinz | March 29, 2011 8:36 AM | ReplyAll right, already!!!!! Sheesh!!!! Yes, I was trying to be sardonic (thanks for noticing the effort - I guess the emoticons helped a little), and apparently it rankled some bloggers, including Mr. Ebert. Truly, I meant no offense, and I apologize if I did. In an oblique, but admittedly clumsy, way, I was making commentary on the universal concept of selling and peoples' reactions to it. Mr. Ebert's foray into retail IS benefitting others, yes. But it is ineluctably benefitting himself as well. Of course, I have no problem with that, but I do find it amusing.
Still, Mr. Ebert is a celebrity (whether he acknowledges that fact or not), and I'm commenting here on the venerable tradition of celebrity shilling. If the late Orson Welles can pitch wine, and the late John Houseman pitch McDonald's hamburgers and investment firms, Mr. Ebert can certainly advocate for oatmeal, if he so chooses. Finally, of course I realize that no Ponzi or pyramid scheme is afoot here. But the comparison did arise in my mind. Just another clumsy joke. Personally, I find salesmanship generally distasteful; in my relative youth, I sought selling jobs (such as for insurance) but couldn't follow through because I lacked the nerve. I am simply not a "people person".
Boy, do I regret commenting upon this blog!
Nick | March 29, 2011 9:17 AM | ReplyWho says film personalities and advertising don't mix? Orson Welles made some great frozen peas commercials!
Joe | March 29, 2011 9:45 AM | ReplyI dunno, Roger. I don't think you--whoever you are--ever want to be known for "shilling" anything, as it puts you in a group with tv preachers, K-Tel, and the Chia Pet.
Jambalaya Crawfish Pie (aka John Galt, Dagney Taggart, Godless, Grubgirl etc) | March 29, 2011 5:01 PM | Reply
If you just happen to offer links to things that people might be interested in, that's different.
It's all about perception.
As for The NY Times subscriptions, I hope they don't expect much, as there are already posted hacks and tricks around it, unhidden to all.
This is really all about the failure of our economy, which no longer serves the planet. There is no longer a way to sustain a system which does not work.John Panagapolous said, "Your selling forays are, if inadvertent, still somewhat disconcerting reminders of the "Madoff bane". Are you that penurious? Between your journalistic/"critical" income and text publishings and Chaz's salary as an attorney, I would have thought you were financially secure. Hmm. ;S"
What a scumbag, you are John!
Jambalaya Crawfish Pie (aka John Galt, Dagney Taggart, Godless, Grubgirl etc) | March 29, 2011 5:23 PM | ReplyDear John Panagopoulos,
Why is the thought of people making money funny at all. I am sad that even Ebert has his tail between his legs, when commenting about his foray into retail. As if he were also moderately ashamed about his endeavors.
I know in my family, we have had horrendous medical bills. I would have been happy to make some extra money to pay off some of those bills. In addition, Ebert also has a nice wife. I am sure he wouldnt mind making something extra for her if anything should happen to him. That is very honorable, in my opinion. In these deflationary times you cannot have enough money for peace of mind.
True capitalism is an honest exchange of goods and services between individuals and is the noblest system available.
So I feel somewhat bad for using the vaunted "Scumbag" adjective to describe anyone. What you said John is downright Scummy. It wasnt funny, and it wasnt satirical. I am sure you are a good person. But the comment was not.
Atlas Shrugged the Movie arrives in select theaters April 15, 2011
Guillermo Lande replied to comment from John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA | March 29, 2011 6:19 PM | ReplyHi, John. I'm not going to crucify you for crucifying Roger because that's between you and him (and those who pointed out your crucifiction already).
But I'd like to comment with regard to: "Boy, do I regret commenting upon this blog."
May I suggest next time you have that regret you just say that and not the several paragraphs before it saying Roger is sliding into disaster by trying to pay off some bills he incurs living and running this excellent blog?
oneofus | March 30, 2011 2:50 AM | ReplyYour reviews are getting lazy. If you were to re-read your review of Cary Fukunaga's JANE EYRE, would you truly claim that you're proud of your writing? It could have been written by any hack. Compare that to your review of the '96 JANE EYRE, in which you really dig in.
You have done a disservice to Cary's excellent film with your lazy, simple review (he is a far more impressive director than your pet Ramin Bahrani--surely you can see that SIN NOMBRE and JANE EYRE far outclass Bahrani's work, on every level?)
As for your non-treatment of SUCKER PUNCH, well, you have essentially sat out one of the more interesting, perplexing films of the decade so far. SUCKER PUNCH is this generation's BARRY LYNDON--for better and worse. A cascade of stunning pseudo-historical images lacking a compelling narrative. But it's still a totally unique film, unlike anything else. SUCKER PUNCH is as much an exploration of spectacle, beauty and the sublime as BARRY LYNDON. Yet I worry that you don't perceive this...
Roeper is an idiotic clown--I can't bear his smug face and maddening blandness. Siskel would have chewed him up and spat him out in two seconds flat! Where are you, Roger? You are praising the good films, bashing the crummy ones, but absent where it counts the most--on the complex, difficult ones.
Ebert: You have an insight about "Sucker Punch" that helps explain your insight into Ramin Bahrani.
doretta | March 30, 2011 12:21 PM | ReplyHow do I send in my $10 to reup my Ebert Club subscription? I don't read the newsletter due to sheer lack of time but would like to continue to support it. I checked the last one I got after reading this blog entry but did not see a link to donate. If there's a link or instructions in a previous newsletter can you tell me which one?
Ebert: Here you go:
http://bit.ly/cOzbNQ
Read this issue. Some really great stuff.
Fran Tremblay | March 30, 2011 12:41 PM | Replyhttp://techland.time.com/2011/03/29/l-a-noire-becomes-first-video-game-ever-featured-at-tribeca-film-festival/
Everyone knows your opinion on the consideration of video games as art, but apparently some people I would guess you hold in high regard think of at least one representative of the form well enough to include it alongside film. The URL above links to a Time article about the inclusion of the upcoming Rockstar Games [i]L.A. Noire[/i] as an official selection at Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Film Festival. While the video included in the article does a fairly good job of illustrating the capabilities of the new MotionScan facial capture process, there are other videos accessible from the game's website (and replicated on YouTube and GameTrailers.com) which go into greater detail about this new technology. I encourage you to look them over to see how it affects your position on the Games As Art debate.
Thank You
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA replied to comment from Jambalaya Crawfish Pie (aka John Galt, Dagney Taggart, Godless, Grubgirl etc) | March 30, 2011 2:15 PM | ReplyThank you for retracting your harsh (and in my opinion, unwarranted) insult. Please refer to my blog post apology and response to those excoriating me for my remarks. Again, I was merely attempting to make a wry, ironic commentary upon the situation of an eminent public figure helping to sell Amazon products. There is nothing wrong with selling (unless you are committing fraud, misrepresentation, or some other commercial crime - of course not in evidence her). We are all salespeople of tangible and intangible items at some point in our lives. However, salesmanship suits some people better than others.
By the way, I do think I am a good person. A million miles from perfect, but basically good.
That's all. May we move on, please?????
Tez | March 30, 2011 6:44 PM | ReplyWhile I found the ads more tolerable than most—that is to say, I have enough ad-blocking filters to never be trifled with such waste—it saddened me to see you reduce yourself to internet prostitution. Frankly, I found it a little embarrassing. I can see why people with no discernible talent or intellect, e.g., the Kardashian sisters, would jump at the chance to hock anything and everything they could attach their name to but you are actually capable of making money by contributing something of value to society.
"I found that posting their entries could take me an evening that I couldn't spare away from work. With income from my Amazon links, I could hire someone to do it."
Fair enough. I don't doubt this is true but it doesn't really do much to ameliorate the change in mood between blogger and reader. I quote youtube's cristofer7 "Do I turn a blind eye to this lameness?" He was talking about e-begging via YouTube but the concept still applies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gUDkTTU90
There are two types of blogs for me—blogs where I feel like I'm actually getting to know someone and blogs where I feel like someone is just trying to sell me shit.
Just my $0.02. I'm sure I'll be flamed to death like John above, but oh well. I'm still a fan for what it's worth.
Ebert: Prostituting my blog? I did the Amazon links on Twitter and Facebook.
Please share your ideas of how web sites can pay for themselves.
oneofus | March 30, 2011 8:01 PM | Reply@Ebert: One thing I'd criticize both Bahrani and Zack Snyder for is that they essentially make the same film over and over, with few refinements. They are stuck. Where is the growth? I think that's an essential element for a great filmmaker...
I'd like to see Zack Snyder directing something like CHOP SHOP, and Bahrani directing SUCKER PUNCH. It would force both of them to stretch in interesting and curious ways. Of course it might be awful, but it might be amazing, too.
As for Cary Fukunaga, he gets everything right. And while it might not be termed growth, SIN NOMBRE and JANE EYRE are so incredibly different thematically and visually, they suggest a director willing to take a few chances.
I'm curious why Bahrani popped up on your radar as such a great filmmaker. I really don't see it. Why him, and not Fukunaga or Joe Wright or some of the other young greats? I'm perplexed.
Tez | March 30, 2011 11:55 PM | Reply"Ebert: Prostituting my blog? I did the Amazon links on Twitter and Facebook."
Yeah, I'm a twitter follower. I assumed you had ads here somewhere on the blog as well that I couldn't see thanks to AdBlock. Actually, I don't know that there's a huge difference in terms of the shift of mood/relationship between blogger and reader, whether it's just on Twitter/Facebook or anywhere else. Basically I'm "following" you because I like and respect you and it bothers me that you are trying to cash in on that. Maybe I'm just naive yet cynical. To clarify, I don't feel as though owe me an apology or anything. I merely find said behavior unctuous.
"Please share your ideas of how web sites can pay for themselves."
Good question. Mainly I'd say it depends on the overhead costs and what you are trying to do with the site. I am not exactly made of cash myself, so I'm always on the look out for free/cheap server space. If you ever decide to set up your own non-profit site, Dreamhost offers free hosting for any 501(c)(3) charitable organizations registered in the United States. My own blog and forum are both hosted on free networks using free software, one of which (yuku) supports itself through relatively non-invasive ads (I honestly do not know how or if blogger generates income for its owners). But that's not really what you seem to be asking and I am not so arrogant as to assume your needs are as humble as mine.
In terms of hiring an assistant to help post content, I imagine of the thousands of readers you've amassed, it wouldn't be that hard to find a competent volunteer. I'd be willing to contribute when I could, for one. I don't know that there needs to be a monetary cost for this service.
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA replied to comment from Guillermo Lande | March 31, 2011 7:58 AM | ReplyThank you for your sympathy, Tez.
lvoyster | March 31, 2011 1:13 PM | ReplyThe love of my life has always been mathematics. Yet almost every time I try to find an article I need in some mathematical journal, I find that I need to "become a member" first. "Become a member" is, of course a euphemism for "give me money." I can get around this by going to the university library but yadda yadda yadda. Some day I am going to want to see what you think of the latest crop of movies and I will be told that I can find out what you think for less than 3 cents a day. I understand why this has to be done. No, really, I do. But I am being slow-sliced to death.
Jambalaya Crawfish Pie (aka John Galt, Dagney Taggart, Godless, Grubgirl etc) | March 31, 2011 6:01 PM | ReplyHello Tez,
Your words are Evil. Pure and utter evil. Even more evil than John's. I think John and I are on good terms again. Unless you are being satirical or something, then that is a different matter entirely. But it sounds like you meant what you said.
You liken Mr. Ebert to the "Kardashian sisters." You say you are embarassed of Mr. Ebert. You not so indirectly referred to his actions as epitomizing "lameness."
I never cease to be amazed how few people understand how simple economics works. The blog itself provides no magical money stream. Instead, the blog is very much akin to a telivision show. It relies either on the resources of its creator, a fee of some sort, or on an external advertisement source for its funding. If it offers something people desire, then it will succeed financially. That says nothing about the intellectual content, since there are probably more successful blogs geared towards those of lower intellect as there are thoughtful sites. But one thing is for sure, there is no communist dictator behind the scenes doling out money to the best and most insightful blogs. Although I am sure people such as yourself (Tez and John) would enjoy a pay zar to oversee blogs. (Gosh I probably shouldnt say that because in this topsy turvey world it will probably come to fruition).
But until our society degenerates to that level, as long as Mr. Ebert is charitable enough to offer his blog minus advertisments to moochers such as yourself, so be it.
I thank Ebert for his honor, but am saddened that the socialist state of Illinois put his little entrepeneurial foray out of business.
P.S.
“The door to the cabinet is to be opened using a minimum of 15 Kleenexes.” --- Howard Hughes
Tez | April 1, 2011 7:37 AM | ReplyJamba,
Hello and farewell. I stopped reading after this "Your words are Evil. Pure and utter evil." No disrespect intended, really. I'm not trying to put you down for having a different opinion. In a way, I'm even touched by your devotion to Ebert, that you would feel this urge to rush to his defense and have such a profound emotional reaction over this slight to his honor. With that said, I'm just not masochistic enough to sit through a lecture explaining why I'm the second coming of Hitler for giving Ebert grief over his recent foray into internet marketing. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some puppies to kick and some invalids to tip over.
Larry Rand | April 1, 2011 10:53 AM | ReplyI am reminded of an acting buddy who took a class from John Houseman in NYC. Houseman had the class discuss the ethics of doing t.v. commercials. Halfway through, he made one of the students take charge of the class and put on his coat to leave, explaining, "I must go sell cornflakes."
Never thought of Houseman as Zen until I heard that.
Bill | April 1, 2011 11:22 AM | ReplySo, Mr. Ebert, how much did you actually make? Would you have continued for the rest of your life if you were not fired?
Mary | April 1, 2011 3:06 PM | Reply
Inquiring minds want to know!Mr Ebert you are always a delight to read & this post had me laughing. The whole Amazon schtick, just hilarious! All those lovely gadgets. I could see myself doing the same thing, trying to raise a few bucks here & there since we're self-employed, in the construction business, in Northern Michigan. Need I say more? I laughed out loud at the Penis book where Amazon shows "people who bought this also bought this....." HAR HAR! What was it, "the man who has too much"....priceless. Love your work.
Debbie | April 2, 2011 12:00 AM | Reply
MaryHonestly, I do comment on you blog posts! Anyway, I had no idea that you were shilling for Amazon. I just imagined you like to shop online a lot and you (being the sharing and thoughtful guy that you are) passed these cool deals on to your followers.
Anyway, I bought a Hitchcock set for my mom, thanks to you!
-Deb
Ebert: Huh. I guess I was looking for DCDebbie. Anyone whose mom likes early Hitchcock has a cool mom.
B Kowalsky | April 2, 2011 3:21 AM | ReplyHahaha,
Brass Balls; It takes a certain confidence to post well.
Love it.
B Kowalsky | April 2, 2011 3:31 AM | ReplyAnd wait, there's more: Sell the brass balls. Certainely a hot item if they are engraved with your initials.
-"Roger Eberts's Balls, only x amount each, all proceedes to charity!"
I would put one on my mantle.
Besides, it makes for a great opener at cocktail parties: "would you like to buy my balls?"
Brendan
Keith | April 2, 2011 6:32 AM | ReplyRoger,
Have you ever considered working with TCM in any capacity? Maybe by sitting in on the Essentials, or on a new show where you take some of the more recent ones on your Great Movies list and discuss which ones will be viewed as classics 30 or 50 years from now. The thumbs meet the Osbourne, mmm might just work....
Keith
Garrett Cook | April 3, 2011 12:44 PM | ReplyWhile the tin was a little dear, I tried McCann's and it is a damned fine oatmeal. So thank you for that. Artists of all kinds have got to be carnival barkers too nowadays and I hope the public eases into this transition with good humor. Publishers don't contribute as much to advertising authors, bands promote themselves on Facebook and Myspace and directors of indie films flood relevant forums with info on their projects. It's part of the profession now. This isn't about selling out, it's about the things we have to do so we don't have to sell out.
Jim Hess | April 3, 2011 3:28 PM | ReplyAt least you got paid by Amazon.com. I keep getting e-mails telling me how to cash in on my links for them, and I do, but nothing comes of it.
So I return to my preferred form of prostitution: Free-market commerce.
If the writing ain't good it ain't worth the ink used.
Andy Grider | April 4, 2011 10:42 AM | ReplyRoger - Your article was funny, but you miss the point of the new Illinois affiliate tax law. The sad truth is that a lot of affiliate of Amazon and a lot of other retailers are essentially being "fired" as you put it. To you this is no big deal because you already make a pretty good living with your other jobs.
Lots of other Illinois affiliates do this work full-time and will now be out of work. Many others who are part-time affiliates will no longer get added income each month that helps them pay their bills. It will be a sad day when this law goes into effect.
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA | April 5, 2011 8:56 AM | ReplyHmm, I would have thought you would be more prone to purveying popcorn, jujubes, Junior Mints, and other movie comestibles during your selling stint, Mr Ebert (LOL). Then again, during your movie review career I don't imagine you ever actually ate anything in the movie theater. Butter stains and chocolate smears on the writing pad would blur your notes.
Ebert: I was partial to Hot Tamales.
john in denver | April 5, 2011 3:01 PM | Reply>Ebert partial to the original red hots
Jeez, I used to load up on hot tamales for a double feature at the old Clark.
For your listening enjoyment, Freddy Keppard plays "Here Comes The Hot Tamale Man." With the Cookie Gingersnaps.
"Red Hots! Red Hots!"
(youtube.com/watchtv?v=ZJDAWEqqbDE)
Vince replied to comment from Don | April 6, 2011 5:23 AM | Reply
I think after a certain age, you mostly know what you like so you can look it up on your own. Being barraged with crap is not only annoying but its geared towards making us want stuff we don't really need, like impulse buys at the checkout line. If I want to see about new movies, I will consciously go on rotten tomatoes, etc. I don't need advertising to come to me. Movie advertising I find unhelpful because it tells me about the movies that the most expensive hype machine wants me to see, but I don't necessarily care to see. To find my own tastes, sometimes I have to consciously do my own digging.
John Panagopoulos, Malden, MA | April 6, 2011 8:24 AM | ReplyEbert: I was partial to Hot Tamales.
They certainly live up to their name.
Vince | April 6, 2011 10:26 AM | Reply#1- Ads are terrible. They contribute to our ADD. Imagine I wanted to read the Bible on the web for some quiet reflection and I've got six ads on my screen. They are a terrible distraction from any content, really.
Paul Johnson | April 8, 2011 1:23 AM | Reply
#2- Aren't you a multi-millionare? I've seen you on TV before. What's with the selling knives bit?
#3- It's those darn one in a thousand insecure males are why the rest of us get spammed. A healthy relationship is built on more than "size." Anyone who doesn't realize this will never be happy.
#4- Aren't most of your books just content from your website? If I want to read "The Great Movies", I can google book search the table of contents, watch all the movies, then read all the reviews on your site.
#5- I like ads that are in keeping with the look and feel of a site although advertising movie deals, to me would seem like pointing out stuff a decent shopper and cinephile would already know. Seamless ads are helpful or at least visually neutral.
#6- Do you think this kind of shameless plugging works? Click on my name and leave your answer on my blog.You're a true capitalist at heart. Thanks to the legislature you're another Atlas who shrugged.
john in denver | April 8, 2011 2:25 PM | ReplyOnly in America.
Barricaded in his house, crazed dude opens fire on investigating officer - a Swat team robot.
Youtube>"Naked man shoots police robot with AK-47."
Home security models available soon at Amazon.
john in denver | April 9, 2011 11:24 AM | ReplyRoger, the best Amazon tip I ever got from you was Sidney Lumet's "Making Movies." There is also a fabulous interview with Mr. Lumet at 'Archive of American Television.' (I remember "You Are There.")
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Ebert's latest books are "The Great Movies III," "Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2010" and "The Pot and How to Use It." Volumes I and II of "The Great Movies" and "Awake in the Dark: The Best of Roger Ebert" can also be ordered via the links in the right column of rogerebert.com. Search About this Entry This page contains a single entry by Roger Ebert published on March 24, 2011 10:49 PM.
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Pages "Anna Nicole The Opera" ~ Covent Garden's cups runneth over A Monty Python Christmas Guys: Danger signals on a date Japan in the catacombs of Paris recent Two Thumbs Up® reviews The birthday of the cinema The long-lost 1970 reunion video of the "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" director, cast and writer the Your Movie Sucks™ files Who goes there? A map of science-fiction Animation Aaargh! I'm turning into a monster! Archives Hef goes West Art in many forms "I don't know anything about architecture, but I know Brutalism when I see it" I'll draw you if you'll draw me Is The Phantom the only sexually-active superhero? The world's largest indoor photo in 360 degrees Being here "Best Society," by Philip Larkin A photo of a little girl, and memories of two beloved aunts Bruce Lee's Definite Chief Aim Hitchens is eloquent in the face of death How to be alone My master thinks this is art Oprah remembers our big date Talking to people on the subway To be young and mixed in America West Virginia 8th grade test in 1931 C'est moi Best films 1967-2009: Siskel & Ebert & Scorsese Helicopter crashes in our house! I didn't notice that was Ron Galella. Is he everywhere? I have no arms and I must play I read these in my bedazzed youth. Now it's the covers I love. I will never, ever, ever, do this I'll be honest and fight sqare If you were a kid in the 1950s, you remember... It's hard to believe it's been 12 years, Gene. I miss you. It's like so uncool to like sound like you know what you're like talking about Matinees and horse manure My darlin' Chaz was on TV this morning My drinking days, recalled in a noirish oil My other neighborhood on Red Arrow Highway Oprah remembers our first date Portrait of the critic at home Reflections after 25 years in the dark Shel Silverstein wrote my own damn song Siskel & Ebert & Stern Siskel & Ebert's 1980s Holiday Gift Guides Cooking Marilyn Monroe's dressing recipe Sauce for the goose The secrets of The Pot CyberWorld I don't think I could do this Wikileaks the Movie: the Social Leak Your handy internet flowchart Directors A conversation with Atom Egoyan Claude Chabrol, RIP. The master at midpoint Herzog looks ahead to the Cave Jason Reitman in conversation Louis Malle: A do-it-yourself interview Manuel de Oliveira is 102: A tribute The heart of the world and other organs: The singular cinema of Guy Maddin The secret of Jacques Tati Ebert Club A Holiday Present for Readers Public Edition #1 Public Edition #2 Public Edition #3 Halloween Special Public Edition #4 Public Edition #5 The Ebert Club's post-Christmas Special Ebert Presents Ebert presents at the movies Ephemera The evolution of the Batmobile The movie alphabet, blah blah blah, if you'll excuse me Film Festivals Starry midnight in Paris The art of the title Film classics The "Potemkin" restoration They shot horses, didn't they? Funny A personal letter from Steve Martin Aid rushed to movie overdose victims At this point, we all need a good laugh Attack of the Second-Rate Monsters Avengers Assemble! Superheroes need health care Buddy Hackett: Up at drama, down at comedy. Dan and Dan: The Daily Mail Song David Mamet's "Lost Masterpieces of Porn," with your host, Ricky Jay Do the Creep! Down memory lane: Nic Cage goes batshit Dr. Tongue's Evil House of Wax in 3D George W. Bush and Mike Tyson in "The President's Speech" Harpo Marx, the most articulate brother Haven't I seen him somewhere before? Henny Youngman: "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!" How Michael Caine Speaks How to fill a glass with water I don't know WTF it's saying, but thumbs up! I know every single word. So do you. I love it when I'm quoted correctly Laurel & Hardy & The Gap Band My entry in New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #282 Push the dragon's head, and the marble runs down here, and... The 1982 Tron Holiday Special The helpful Robert Benchley Walken the Walk, by Walkin' Walken When Harry met Sally 2, with Billy Crystal and Helen Mirren Literature "Fight Club," by Jane Austen "In Love with Raymond Chandler," by Margaret Atwood "The Premature Burial," by Edgar Allan Poe Gatsby in Scott Fitzgerald's handwriting In memory of the memories of W. G. Sebald Jack Kerouac: 3/12/22 - 10/21/69 On 12/22/1989, Samuel Beckett's wait ended Studs and Algren and Patterson, N.J. The Black Mask Boys The books everyone should read The enigmatic case of the oddly persistent mystery writer Walt Kelly, an immortal Why is film criticism important? ? Deck us all with Boston Charlie ? London "London Moods," a 1961 short by Ken Russell "Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." ~ Dr. Johnson The delightful Mr. Pepys Meaning of it All A cry from alone Grandpa Joe and Secretariat: A Christmas story The Nutcracker Cheat This is a dog Movies "As Penny Chenery's youngest son..." "Man in a Blizzard," by Jamie Stuart "Rosebud" was a rather tawdry device "The most beautiful film ever made" "Whose birthday, Lou?" "Yours, Bud!" "Mine?!? Waitaminit! You were born before me." "That's why your birthday is first." "Who's second?" "You. I was born first." 100 Great Moments in the Movies 36 Hitchcock death scenes all at once A double feature every day! Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! I could watch a Fellini film on the radio If Hitchcock had made the trailer for "Inception" Jeff Bridges: The Starman within John Waters Unplugged: The Transcript Marni Nixon: The secret voice of Hollywood NYFF48: Film's evolution and man's progress. Nick & Nora's hangover cure Revenge on "Revenge of the Sith" Richard Harris: Don't let it be forgot Robert Duvall: "Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that" Rock Hudson's secret S&E review River Phoenix's last film Siskel & Ebert on how to be a film critic Street scene: Movie theater, snow, rain, promise The Akira Kurosawa Song The Bechtel Test The Blanche DuBois Death Match: Vivien Leigh v. Woody Allen The Duke on Rooster: "My first good part in 20 years" The Kowalski Smackdown: Marlon Brando v. Diane Keaton The shower scene When Lynch met Lucas & Werner saved Joaquin Why Pauline Kael never saw a movie twice Movies free online "Alma," award-winning short by Rodrigo Blaas "Breathless:" Modern movies begin here "Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis," by Matthew Ross "Magritte Moment," by Ian Fischer "Out of Sight." A magical anime "The Kid," by Charlie Chaplin "The Whales of August" Buster Chaplin: "The Circus," "The Kid" and "The Gold Rush" Chuck Jones: That's not all, folks! Cocteau's "Beauty and the Beast" Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story Harold Lloyd in "An Eastern Westerner" Pauline Kael's favorite film: "Menilmontant" Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in Richard Lester's "The Bed-Sitting Room" Some documentaries of Werner Herzog Ten great films about horror The Haunted World of Ed Wood, Jr. The Naked Civil Servant: John Hurt as Quentin Crisp Music : ) "Chanda Mama" around the world "Making Giant Hands," by Dog and Panther "Swan Lake" by the Great Chinese Circus "What'll I do?" by Julie London A Farm Aid concert from 1985 A Labor Day concert A xylophone in a forest Arrow: In Memory. "Hot! Hot! Hot!" Bob Dylan must be Santa Concert for an uncertain world Did Leonard Cohen save my life? Do you know the wonderful Lucy Foley? Esperanza Spalding. Yes. Four-year-old Jonathan conducts conducts the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Freddie Mercury vs. the Platters & Wayne's World Gene Siskel covers Paul McCartney in 1976 George Shearing, 1919-2011 Happiness is being on the road again I went to school with Andy Cohen I'll never smoke weed with Willie again Jammin' cellos: Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic Joan Baez: There is a clearing where one is almost happy John Prine: A concert in Ireland John Prine: American Legend Jonathan is three and loves great music Joni MItchell: "Big Yellow Taxi" Julie London: The torch is burning New Year's with Steve: In tribute to a great heart Nikki Janofsky: The future is hers Que sera, sera Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Still Bill: The life and songs of Bill Withers Sweet Dreams, Baby: For Patsy Cline The Platters perform "The Twist" The night Hank Williams came to town The ukulele orchestra of Great Britain Tom Waits serenades New York harbor We need Punk Vaudeville. Jarmean? Won't you ride in my little red wagon? Your Christmas morning concert ? Don't know much about history... ? ? My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine, you make me smile with my ? ? Nestor Torres and the spirit in the music Newspapers O'Rourke's magazine "Blemished, Perfection," a story by Grace Wang "Calcuttan Cats," by H. W. Cimmerian "One autumn evening in Peshewar" by Larry J. Kolb "Sonoran Duende," by Tracey Durgan "Sorrows and Joys of the Desert," by Tom Dark Two short stories by H. W. Cimmerian Oscars Pages for Twitter "Injun Summer," by John T. McCutcheon "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen" Are you smart enough to teach grade school? February 3, 1959: The day the music died People "It's not like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Cher said. Bill Mauldin, American Bronson: Coming of age in Scoop Town Dorothy Dandridge: In Memory Falling in Love Again: Marlene Dietrich Keanu thought his two years were running out Kirk Douglas: I've killed so many Romans, so many Vikings, so many Indians... Leslie Nielsen, RIP. "And don't call me Shirley" Liza, when all was still ahead Mae West and Rock Hudson: "Baby, It's Cold Outside!" Maria Schneider comes to America On the 69th birthday of the greatest Pete Postlethwaite: 1946-2011 Robert Mitchum remembers Marilyn Monroe Some Robert De Niro gossip I hadn't heard Susannah York, 1939-2011 The last days of Tiny Tim What Oscar Wilde taught Stephen Fry Zuppke of Illinois: A football coach Photos in need of a caption Photos in need of comment Photo of a man with an odd shoe covering for 4/7 Photo of a wing-plucker for 4/9 Photo of an airplane without a fuselage for 4/6 Photo of some joker on his day off for 4/10 Photo of someone coming in late to a movie for 4/8 Poetry "Hollywood Jabberwocky," by Frank Jacobs "The Charge of the Light Brigade," by Tennyson "The Day the Saucers Landed," by Neil Gaiman "The Machines Mourn the Passing of People"
by Alicia E Stallings "You being in love," by e. e. cummings 'Twas the Night Before Pogo Dylan Thomas goes not gently Emily Dickinson: My life closed twice before its close Good-bye to All That Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" I love this sweet grandmother In Just-Spring, when the world is mud-luscious... Marilyn Monroe and Carl Sandburg On the worthlessness of internet snipers Remembering Bukowski Samuel Taylor Coleridge Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? So anyway, Charles Bukowski, Errol Morris and Roger Ebert walk into this bar... So much depends upon a red wheel barrow When icicles hang by the wall William Blake: Of innocence and experience e. e. cummings lives in a pretty how heaven e. e. cummings talks dirty (nsfw) Politics "If you think it's a socialist plot, give up your federal health care" A trek into darkest Wisconsin Christopher Hitchens at length on BBC's Newsnight Pogo says it for the very first time Saul Alinsky comes to the Tea Party The Battle Hymn of the Tea Party The financial crisis explained (nsfw) The politically corrected Huckleberry Finn The rich are waging war on America Update on the TSA breast milk incident Will Rogers on unemployment Science and not A reality far beyond my imagination Ants have built-in pedometers Do Creationists make good science students? Drive a car with the power of your mind Jeez, Dr. Feynman, I'm sorry I asked Memo to RMN: In the event of a moon disaster Our beautiful, awesome, terrifying universe Snakes on mathematical planes Starting with one cell, we arrive at Prof. Hawking The God Gene. A breakthrough The python's dinner We are part of all worlds Why HAL 9000 sang "Daisy" Strange "Jean-Luc," a cartoon not about Godard (I think) "The Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar Allan Poe At last, a trailer that doesn't give away the whole story Do I dare to eat a peach? Fifteen minutes of my life, gone forever Forms of sychronized swimming without water Sigmund Freud's friendly couch Take my hand, I'm a stranger in Paradise The Man Who Foretold the Future Top 10 reasons I want to be cremated Worth it for Sam Elliott's hair Television "I Love Lucy:" The long-lost pilot Jack Benny, 1894-1974: The man who was funny just by standing there Jones, Jonze, Spike & Co. OK, already! I PLAYED a video game! Now are you happy? Playboy After Dark was pretty good. Yes. Siskel & Ebert on home video in 1988 Tom Shales lunches with Siskel & Ebert When Siskel & Ebert were on "Sneak Previews" Young Jon Stewart interviews George Carlin (1997) Videos "A beautiful movie about the end of the world" Australians are so much better at this Idiot with an iPhone What could go wrong? Racer's eye-view of a downhill stunt bike race Twitterif (WIDGETBOX) WIDGETBOX.renderWidget('aab0844a-67aa-4843-83b7-b5ee9c39ce36');
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